Pastor challenges Easton Area School district on racial 'imbalance and disparity'

Easton school diversity

FILE PHOTO, THE MORNING CALL

The Rev. Philip Davis, senior pastor at Greater Shiloh Church in Easton, addressed what he calls the "imbalance and disparity" between the races in the Easton Area School District.

The Rev. Philip Davis, senior pastor at Greater Shiloh Church in Easton, addressed what he calls the "imbalance and disparity" between the races in the Easton Area School District. (FILE PHOTO, THE MORNING CALL)

Christy Potter,Special to The Morning Call

Pastor call out Easton school district on racial 'disparity'

The Easton Area School District's website says diversity is one of its greatest strengths. The Rev. Philip Davis disagrees.

During Tuesday night's board of education meeting, Davis, senior pastor at Greater Shiloh Church in Easton, addressed what he calls the "imbalance and disparity" between the races in the school district.

"No reasonable person can deny that there is an imbalance in the Easton Area School District," Davis said. He quoted from the district's website, which says "The Easton Area School District respects the diversity of its student population and is dedicated to the importance of developing our students into responsible citizens. We will provide each student with an academically challenging program that enhances creativity, develops an ability to use technology and encourages critical thinking and problem solving."

However, he said, six of the district's 10 schools are failing in their performance numbers. He said the district is also failing when it comes to employee diversity. Out of 597 teachers in the district, 2 percent are black. There are 98 bus drivers, and 7 percent of them are black. There are 84 janitors, 8 percent of whom are black. And out of 94 administrators, he said, 4 percent are black.

"The message sent indirectly is that it's OK for a black man to be a janitor or a bus driver, but don't aspire to be a teacher or administrator," Davis said. "It's stunning."

He added that in the history of the Easton Area School District there has never been an African-American head coach except for cheerleading.

Student performance is another issue, he said. Black Easton students across the board are performing 20-25 percent below whites in math and reading, and only 83 percent of black children are graduating from the district. He called out Cheston School specifically, saying he remembers when it was "a celebrated school." Now, he said, among fourth-graders only 38 percent are proficient in reading, and 55 percent are proficient in math. And, he added, scores are getting worse.

"I could go on, but you get the point," he said. "There is a serious disparity in our district. If we recognize that disparity and unlevel playing field, where is the action plan to bring some balance to this? And it's not just black and Hispanic, it's poor children too. Where is the plan to support these suffering students?"

Superintendent John Reinhart thanked Davis for his comments and said district officials initiated a conversation in April with representatives from various organizations throughout the district to talk about some of the concerns Davis mentioned.

"We have had healthy conversations about those things," Reinhart said. "The district has recognized many of the factors you mentioned. We realize there are issues we have to look at and we can't wait any longer to do that. I will tell you that we plan to continue those conversations."